The window to Lugano's new cultural world

LUGANO Switzerland's sunniest region has been given a cultural center. The LAC - Lugano Arte e Cultura - aims to position itself as a bridge between northern and southern Europe and as an important cultural institution in Switzerland. Last but not least, it is also a new attraction and location for conferences and events. This article was published in the October issue of the trade magazine "Tagungen & Events". More articles on events, seminars, destinations and locations? To the subscription.There it is, the new window of Lugano. What is meant here is the entrance hall to the LAC cultural center. The entrance area, including the doors, is deliberately made of glass in order to welcome the light and visitors with "open arms". The LAC was built on the Piazza Bernardino Luini - the largest square in Lugano. From the lake side, one enters the square via a short staircase. This is at the same time a gate. On the one hand to another time. For on the piazza also stands the "Palace" - once a nobleman's residence, then a hotel and today part of the cultural center. The 19th-century façade still gleams and blends in with the modern design of the LAC. The Palace courtyard - with its garden, frescoes and church - is also reminiscent of those times. On the other hand, the Piazza is a gateway to a cultural world full of art, dance and theater. The entrance area of the LAC is wide, high and bright. The architect's idea of minimizing the boundaries between the exterior and interior is immediately clear.

The entrance area of the LAC is intended to act like a window, softening the boundary between the interior and exterior. As part of everyday lifeIn 2001, Ivano Gianola, a representative of the Ticino school, won the commission to design the new cultural center. "I wanted to make it so that people could cross the building as if it were an ordinary thoroughfare ", explains the architect. The intention behind this is to remove the separation between physical spaces and make the LAC part of everyday life. In 2010, the first foundation stone was laid for the construction and on September 12, 2015, the "window" was opened.A room full of acousticsThe entrance hall leads to the theater and concert hall with about 1000 seats. From symphony to jazz concerts, from operetta to drama: thanks to an acoustic shell, a variety of performances is possible. The hall is also suitable for congresses, general meetings and company celebrations.Conferences and seminarsOut of the auditorium, up the escalator, there are four more halls on the third floor. The rooms are simple, white and flooded with light. Especially room four, at the edge of the building, has large windows and an outdoor terrace overlooking Lago di Lugano. This room can also be used for aperitifs and smaller festive events. Rooms one to three are mainly used for meetings and seminars. For this reason, they are also equipped with the latest technology. There is no restaurant in the LAC, but a catering service can be booked on request. The range of seminars is supplemented by the studio theater. It is mainly used for smaller performances and rehearsals for theater activities. The hall is also suitable for seminars and celebrations. It is located on the opposite side of the LAC. It can be reached through the park, which is located in between. This is decorated with various works of art and is accessible to all. "This is an important approach of the cultural center," emphasizes the center's director, Michel Gagnon: "The LAC is a place for everyone, where you don't just see a performance or an exhibition, but a dynamic and living reality."Art on three levelsThis is also reflected in the other core element: the museum. It was created from the merger between the cantonal and municipal museums. On three floors artists show their creations. The first floor shows the permanent exhibition on Ticino and the city of Lugano, while the other two floors are reserved for temporary exhibitions. The exhibitions themselves do not follow any particular epoch, much more they are meant to show and promote the different arts.Cultural quarter as a supporting programWith the cultural center, Lugano has created a pivotal point for northern and southern Europe. "In the future, the LAC is to play an important role in the social and economic transformation of the city. It is to be considered as a new quarter for art and culture," says the director. This is also how it wants to position itself in the meetings and events sector. After all, the LAC is an ideal space for cultural supporting programs that can be integrated before or after a meeting or seminar.Author: Melanie Granados